diff --git a/ckan/lib/uploader.py b/ckan/lib/uploader.py
index 05ac1ae90df..aa0e9d6748c 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/uploader.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/uploader.py
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@
 _max_image_size = None
 
 
+def get_uploader(upload_to, old_filename=None):
+    '''Query IUploader plugins and return an uploader instance for general
+    files.'''
+    upload = None
+    for plugin in plugins.PluginImplementations(plugins.IUploader):
+        upload = plugin.get_uploader(upload_to, old_filename)
+
+    # default uploader
+    if upload is None:
+        upload = Upload(upload_to, old_filename)
+
+    return upload
+
+
 def get_resource_uploader(data_dict):
     '''Query IUploader plugins and return a resource uploader instance.'''
     upload = None
diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/create.py b/ckan/logic/action/create.py
index 7eee12a70b0..c5107f19fc0 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/create.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/create.py
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ def _group_or_org_create(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
     session = context['session']
     data_dict['is_organization'] = is_org
 
-    upload = uploader.Upload('group')
+    upload = uploader.get_uploader('group')
     upload.update_data_dict(data_dict, 'image_url',
                             'image_upload', 'clear_upload')
     # get the schema
@@ -766,6 +766,7 @@ def _group_or_org_create(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
     logic.get_action('activity_create')(activity_create_context, activity_dict)
 
     upload.upload(uploader.get_max_image_size())
+
     if not context.get('defer_commit'):
         model.repo.commit()
     context["group"] = group
diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/update.py b/ckan/logic/action/update.py
index 2c6467e2c71..6809766892e 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/update.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/update.py
@@ -499,6 +499,7 @@ def package_relationship_update(context, data_dict):
     context['relationship'] = entity
     return _update_package_relationship(entity, comment, context)
 
+
 def _group_or_org_update(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
     model = context['model']
     user = context['user']
@@ -515,15 +516,15 @@ def _group_or_org_update(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
     # get the schema
     group_plugin = lib_plugins.lookup_group_plugin(group.type)
     try:
-        schema = group_plugin.form_to_db_schema_options({'type':'update',
-                                               'api':'api_version' in context,
+        schema = group_plugin.form_to_db_schema_options({'type': 'update',
+                                               'api': 'api_version' in context,
                                                'context': context})
     except AttributeError:
         schema = group_plugin.form_to_db_schema()
 
-    upload = uploader.Upload('group', group.image_url)
+    upload = uploader.get_uploader('group', group.image_url)
     upload.update_data_dict(data_dict, 'image_url',
-                           'image_upload', 'clear_upload')
+                            'image_upload', 'clear_upload')
 
     if is_org:
         _check_access('organization_update', context, data_dict)
@@ -609,12 +610,13 @@ def _group_or_org_update(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
         # in the group.
 
     upload.upload(uploader.get_max_image_size())
+
     if not context.get('defer_commit'):
         model.repo.commit()
 
-
     return model_dictize.group_dictize(group, context)
 
+
 def group_update(context, data_dict):
     '''Update a group.
 
diff --git a/ckan/plugins/interfaces.py b/ckan/plugins/interfaces.py
index d7707b141d2..2c9ba115e9d 100644
--- a/ckan/plugins/interfaces.py
+++ b/ckan/plugins/interfaces.py
@@ -1467,6 +1467,8 @@ class IUploader(Interface):
     be used by resource_create and resource_update actions.
     '''
 
+    def get_uploader(self):
+        '''Return an uploader object used to upload general files.'''
+
     def get_resource_uploader(self):
-        '''Return an alternative resource uploader object for resource
-        files.'''
+        '''Return an uploader object used to upload resource files.'''